With a new solicitation that requires an existing CWN contract what happens to the big push for next gen aircraft? If you purchased a 412 or maybe a 145/429 to bid are you just screwed on EU? Best you can hope is to go out as a limited CWN if they ever award the MATOC? Seems a lot more cost effective to keep calling old UH-1s vs a next gen if there isn't a crew to staff it as helitack?

 The USFS and DOI entirely will never make sense or do anything that will be good for any operator. Been watching that progress for 30 years. 

If you bought a 145/429 to fight fire with you're dumb as a rock as they're garbage fire aircraft.

what would be bad about a 429. can it go to 8,000 GW external in the US? says 3,000 on the hook capacity.

I dont think it could even do 3k after you put fuel on board but spending 8-10 mil to be beat by a 205 on capacity doesnt like a winning plan. If you want spend 10 mil buy a kmax anyou can do double that, 6k.

The Kmax is no longer made.

It's that the (FS) wants a 145/429 or anything newer than 1980 (can't remember the exact year in the MATOC) twin for some of the contracts, yes the 205 with 212 blade and tail BLR kit is hard to beat in the field but since when has a government ever cared about fiscal responsibilities. 

I think they want to make it so impossible to meet all the specs that they'll run to congress saying they can't find any aircraft and that they'll need their own fleet of Hawks/S70, and magically public use won't have to jump thru all the hoops like we do....

And what contracts are those? Cause I don't know of a single contract that a 429 or any other aircraft like that would be useful. 

how many of you have seen a 429 on fire doing anyhting? PJ has them, Capitol, and few others, and I'm willing to be there haven't done Jack with them on fires other than helco once or twice. 

They would like a "light " twin on some of the burn contracts in the SE. 

They will never implement the contract because it's stupid. They'll be left with nothing. We already have a pilot skill shortage on most type 3 and lots of "qualified" type 2 pilots. Don't need any more Bs 

Oh, they use them, for HEC and some work that a 500 or 407 could do better and safer, that's about it. 

A few companies are going to clean up on NVG Helco contracts.  It's gonna be light twins and Tanked heavies in region 5.  The future doesn't have to make sense, but if you're smart you can make a few cents. 

Can burn to the ground and no one would care. Would do everyone in the US a favor.